Monica Bellucci

Monica Anna Maria Bellucci, (born 30 September 1964)is an Italian actress and fashion model.

Personal life

Bellucci was born in Città di Castello, Umbria, Italy,the daughter of Maria Gustinelli, a painter, and Luigi Bellucci, who owned a trucking company.Bellucci started modelling at 16, when she was attending the Liceo classico. Initially pursuing a career as a lawyer, Bellucci modeled to pay her tuition at the University of Perugia,but the lifestyle tempted her away from her law studies. She speaks Italian, French, and English fluently, Spanish semi-fluently, and she has had speaking roles in each of these languages as well as in Aramaic for her part as Mary Magdalene in The Passion of the Christ.

Bellucci was married to fashion photographer Claudio Carlos Basso in 1990. She is currently married to fellow actor Vincent Cassel, with whom she has appeared in several films, and has a daughter named Deva (born 12 September 2004). The couple are expecting their second child in the spring of 2010. In 2004, while pregnant with her daughter, Bellucci posed nude for the Italian Vanity Fair Magazine in protest against Italian laws that prevent the use of donor sperm.She posed pregnant and semi-nude again for the april 2010 issue of Italian vanity fair.

In a documentary movie The Big Question about the film The Passion of the Christ, she stated: "I am an agnostic, even though I respect and am interested in all religions. If there's something I believe in, it's a mysterious energy; the one that fills the oceans during tides, the one that unites nature and beings."

Career

Modeling

At the 2003 Cannes Film Festival.

At the 2009 Women's World Award.

In 1988, Bellucci moved to one of Europe's fashion centers, Milan, where she signed with Elite Model Management. By 1989, she was becoming prominent as a fashion model in Paris and across the Atlantic, in New York City. She posed for Dolce & Gabbana and French Elle, among others. In that year, Bellucci made the transition to acting and began taking acting classes. The February 2001 Esquire's feature on Desire featured Ms. Bellucci on the cover and in an article on the five senses. In 2003, she was featured in Maxim. In 2004, she topped AskMen's 100 Most Beautiful Women in the World annual list. Bellucci's modelling career is managed by Elite+ in New York City. She is considered an Italian sex symbol. She is currently a face of a range of Dior Cosmetics. Bellucci is also signed to Storm Model Management in London.

Film

Bellucci's film career began in the early 1990s. She played some minor roles in La Riffa (1991) and Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992). In 1996 she was nominated for a César Award for best supporting actress for her portrayal of Lisa in L'Appartement[ and strengthened her position as an actress. She became known and popular with worldwide audiences, following her roles in Malèna (2000), Irréversible (2002) and has played in many films from Europe and Hollywood like Tears of the Sun (2003), The Matrix Reloaded (2003), The Passion of the Christ (2004), The Brothers Grimm (2005), Le Deuxième souffle (2007), Don't Look Back (2009), etc.

She was supposed to be seen portraying Indian politician Sonia Gandhi in the biopic Sonia, originally planned for release in 2007, but it has been shelved.

Bellucci dubbed her own voice for the French and Italian releases of the film Shoot 'Em Up (2007). And she also voiced Kaileena in the video game Prince of Persia: Warrior Within, and the French voice of Cappy for the French version of the 2005 animated film Robots.

Awards and others

In 2003, Bellucci won the Nastro d'Argento Best Supporting Actress award for her portrayal of Alessia in Remember Me, My Love. In 2006, she served as a judge at 59th Cannes Film Festival. In 2009, she won the World Actress Award in Women's World Award.

Filmography

Year Film Role Notes

1990 Vita coi figli (Life With the Sons) Elda

Briganti – Amore e libertà (Bandits – Love and Liberty) Costanza

1991 la riffa Francesca

1992 Bram Stoker's Dracula One of Dracula's brides

ostinato destino Marina/ Angela

1994 I Mitici Deborah

1995 Pala di Neve Melina

Il cielo é sempre piú blu

Joseph Pharaoh's wife

1996 L'Appartement Lisa Nominated - César Award for Best Supporting Actress

Sorellina e il principe del sogno (uncredited) Princess

1997 Stressati

Dobermann Nat the Gypsy

Mauvais genre Camille

Come mi vuoi Nellina

1998 Le plaisir Girl

Compromis Monique

Ultimo capodanno dell'umanità Giulia Giovannini

A los que aman Valeria

1999 Comme un poisson hors de l'eau Myrtille

Mediterranées Marguerite

2000 Under Suspicion Chantal Hearst

Franck Spadone Laura

Malèna Malèna Scordia

2001 Brotherhood of the Wolf Sylvia

2002 Astérix & Obélix: Mission Cléopâtre Cleopatra

Irréversible Alex

2003 Remember Me, My Love Alessia Nastro d'Argento award for Best Supporting Actress

Tears of the Sun Lena Fiore Kendricks

The Matrix Reloaded Persephone

Enter the Matrix (video game) Persephone

The Matrix Revolutions Persephone

2004 The Passion of the Christ Mary Magdalene

Agents Secrets Barbara / Lisa

She Hate Me Simona Bonasera

2005 The Brothers Grimm The Mirror Queen

How Much Do You Love Me? Daniela

2006 Sheitan La belle vampiresse

N (Io e Napoleone) Baronessa Emilia Speziali

The Stone Council Laura Siprien

2007 Heartango

(short film for Intimissimi) L'inafferrabile/ La passionale /

L'indecisa / La curiosa /

L'aggressiva / La mamma /

La premurosa

Manuale d'amore 2

(Capitoli successivi) Lucia

Shoot 'Em Up Donna Quintano

Le deuxième souffle Manouche

2008 Sanguepazzo Luisa Ferida

L'uomo che ama Alba

2009 Don't Look Back Jeanne

The Private Lives of Pippa Lee Gigi Lee

Baarìa – La porta del vento Bricklayer's girlfriend

Omaggio a Roma Tosca

2010 The Whistleblower Awaiting release

The Sorcerer's Apprentice Veronica Awaiting release

(source:wikipedia)